A parliamentary committee is seized with a Bill that will seek to impose stringent penalties for armed robbers, stock-thieves and those found in possession of illegal guns. The Arms and Ammunition Bill, which is under the Internal Security Act, and the Stock Theft Bill, were brought to the Portfolio Committee on Law by Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane and Lehlohonolo Hlapisi. Rakuoane, who leads the Popular Front for Democracy (PFD), briefed the committee on the two Bills. Hlapisi is the MP for ’Maliepetsane constituency under the Democratic Congress (DC) party. The committee is yet to decide what to do with the two …
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He said anyone who would be found in possession of stolen animals should be sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison.
And those who would be found in possession of stolen animals should be sentenced to not less than 25 years in prison.
“Those who will be found killing people as they engaged in stock-theft should be sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison,” Rakuoane said.
“They would be fined M20 000 and above,” he said.
He said bail for stock-theft should start from M10 000.
Regarding the Arms and Ammunition Bill, Rakuoane said fines or bail should be abolished.
People who would be found using illegal firearms should be sent to prison straight away, he said.
He said the Bill will completely abolish fines and bail.
He said the committee seemed to feel that the law has been be lenient on the issue of bail and fines.
“The committee is likely to amend this part,” Rakuoane said.
He said people use guns to commit lots of crimes.
“The teeth of the House are its committees because the House is unable to digest,” Rakuoane said.
He said relevant authorities are yet to have a look at these two Bills to give their opinions.
The committee heard that the purpose of the Bill is to improve the Internal Security (Arms and Ammunition) Act of 1966.
It seeks to empower the courts of law to depart from punishments set out in that Act where the courts have been seen to be lenient.
The Act was enacted in 1966 and since then there has been a drastic increase in the unlawful acquisition and misuse of arms and ammunition.
Inevitably, this has led to a spike in violent crimes being committed against the population especially the vulnerable members of society, the Bill reads.
The Bill seeks to curb the increasing cases of violent crime by empowering the courts to impose stiffer sentences on criminals.
The Bill makes provision for minimum punishments and the courts may still impose higher or lower punishments depending on the circumstances.
